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We know the Wizards are looking to upgrade the backup point guard position after Eric Maynor flopped and Shaun Livingston, Shelvin Mack and Kendall Marshall thrived only when the Wizards let them go after seeing them struggle here or before they even got a chance.
Now, we have some names. First, from ESPN's Marc Stein.
One (reasonably) definite move you'll see before trade deadline: Wiz trading for a new backup PG. Beno Udrih said to be high on Wiz list
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 11, 2014
Then, from Grantland's Zach Lowe.
The Wizards, meanwhile, may have to settle for a smaller deal - if they can manage any at all. They'd surely love to upgrade the backup point guard slot after the Eric Maynor flop, and given the front-office connections between Denver and Washington, a deal involving the exiled Professor Andre Miller, PhD, would seem to make sense.
(Note: That reads more like an idea than an actual rumor, but Stein suggested the Wizards do indeed "covet" Miller).
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Salary is a major consideration because the Wizards are just $1 million under the luxury tax line and have $4.5 million in dead money going to the released Shannon Brown and Marshall.
Udrih is a minimum-salary guy that was a free-agent target of the Wizards before they quickly pounced on Maynor. He's fallen out of favor with Mike Woodson and probably could be had for a song. For example: Al Harrington straight up for Udrih works. Udrih is a much better offensive player than Garrett Temple, but would be giving away some of that defensively.
Miller, meanwhile, makes $5 million this year and $4.6 million next season, though he can be waived by June 30 for only $2 million. He's obviously got a great pedigree, can still play at a high level and has history with Randy Wittman, but he also can have a poor attitude when he's not playing. He's grumbled at several of his previous stops and is currently exiled from the Nuggets due to an argument with new coach Brian Shaw. Dealing for him will require some salary creativity, and there are other suitors, most notably the Kings.
My opinion continues to be that a backup point guard upgrade is not as important as others (and the Wizards, I guess) make it seem. Temple's been fine and I don't think adding long-term salary is worth it.
